Washing apparatus



23,1943 E. s. STODDARD WASHING APPARATUS Filed Feb'; 21'. 1941 Fig.1., v

, 36 25 IT'lV GnbOT': 1 Edgar" S. Stoddard,

by W

HisAttornqg.

Patented Mar. 23,

WASHING APPARATUS Edgar S. Stoddard, Berwyn, Ill., assignor to EdisonGeneral Electric Appliance Company,

Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Application February 27,1941, Serial No. 380,852

9 Claims.

This invention relates towashing'apparatus and more particularly to awashing apparatus of the front opening type and has for. its object theprovision of new. and improved, inexpensive and efiective means forpreventing leakage at the opening through which articles to be washedare introduced into the washing apparatus and.

for effectively discharging intothe washing apparatus any drippings,either food soil or water,

which accumulate on the exposed inner surface of the door covering thefront opening when the apparatus is in use.

While not limited thereto, this invention relates to a dishwashingapparatus of the front opening type in which a washing vat is providedwith an opening in .one of its walls, preferably a front wall, throughwhich the articles to be washed are introduced and a door is providedfor covering the opening, the door having a substantially verticalclosed position and a substantially horizontal open position. Racks areprovided within the vat for supporting the articles to be washed andthese racks when being loaded or unloaded are adapted to be moved outover the door when the latter is in its open position.

In the manufacture of a washing apparatus of the aforementioned type,considerable difficulty has been encountered in preventing leaks aroundthe opening where the dishes are introduced. The problem has beenfurther complicated by the fact that provision must be made for takingcare of the drippings of either food soil or water on the door lining sothat they are not permitted to fall on the floor. Due to the provisionwhich must be made for carrying such 'drippings to the drain a simplegasket arrangement for sealing the opening in the dishwasher has beenfound unsuitable.

In accordance with this invention these difficulties have been overcomeby providing a discontinuous gasket for sealing the front opening. Oneportion of this gasket is mounted on the vat and seals the top and twosides of the opening in the vat and a second portion ofthe gasket ismounted on the lower edge [or the door so as to engage the bottom of thetub and abut is raised without interference from the door sealing means.

For a more complete understanding of my invention, reference should behad to the accompanying. drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation ofa washing apparatus of the front opening type, parts being broken awayto show the details of construction of the improved door sealconstruction of this invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partly insection and partly broken away, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 andlooking in direction of arrows, showing further details of the door sealconstruction of this invention; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged view taken onthe line 33 of Fig. 1 looking in direction of arrows with parts brokenaway and asket portions sectioned to show further details of the bottomportion of the door seal construction of this invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, this invention has been illustrated as applied to aside or front opening type of dishwasher which comprises a vat H) whichis suitably supported within a casing l I having side walls I2 and a topwall l3. The vat l0 includes a top wall M, a pair of side walls I 5 andI6, and a bottom wall "which define a front or side opening l8 throughwhich articles to be washed may be inserted. 7

It will of course be understood that there will be provided within thevat I0 suitable means for supplying a washing fluid as well as means forcirculating the washing fluid. Moreover, it will be understood that.suitable racks will be provided within the vat for supporting thearticles to be washed. Since these elements form no part of thisinvention per se and are well known to those skilled -in the art, it isdeemed unnecessary to show them in the drawing.

Pivotally mounted at H on the casing H so as to close the front openingI8 and to be movable between a substantially vertical closedposiagainst-the side gaskets at their lower. edge to tion' and asubstantially horizontal open position is a door 20 which comprise afront panel -2I to which an inner liner 24 is suitably secured,

bead extending across the top of the door lining anddown the sidesthereof is spaced from the outside edge of the lining so as to define arelatlvely flat flange portion 21 between the side wall of thelining'and the head; The bead across the bottom of the liner, on theother hand, extends substantially to the lower edge thereof. Thereceptacle 23 formed by the head 25 serves as a tray for catching thedrippings, either food soil or water, which fall thereon when the door20 is moved to its horizontal open position and the dish supportingracks (not shown) are moved out thereover. Depending upon the care inhandling the dishes, there will be varying amounts of accumulated liquidin this receptacle. By means of the improved construction justdescribed, this accumulated food soil and liquid will run down the doorliner and be projected into the vat ID by means of the projecting bead25 along the lower edge of the vat. Thus it is insured that any foodsoil or other drlpplngs accumulated during the handling of the articleswashed or to be washed in the washing apparatus will be carried into thevat'and thence to the drain without dripping onto the floor.

In accordance with this invention there-is provided improved means forsealing a front opening door construction which is provided with sucheffective means for carrying drippings into the washing apparatus.This'improved sealing means in its essential aspect consists of sealingthe front opening by means of a discontinuous gasket and preferably by adiscontinuous gasket mounted in two planes. Such improved sealingarrangement insures that the gasket will not interfere with the normalfunctioning of the improved means for carrying drippin s into thewashing vat. 4

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be observed that one portion of thesealing arrangement comprises a continuous gasket 28 which extendsacross the top wall It and down each side wall I5 and I6 of the vat nearthe edge of the opening It. It will be noted that the portions of thegasket 28 which extend along the side walls l5 and I6 continue into thelower comers of the side walls and abut against the bottom wall II.

The gasket 28 is made of some suitable resilient material, preferablysponge rubber, and is held in position by means of a, Z-shaped gasketretainer 29 which is secured to the top and side walls of the vat I 0 bymeans of screws 30. The

normal width of the gasket is made slightly greater than the spaceprovided between the adjacent wall of the val; and the outside edge ofthe Z-shaped retainer so that when the retainer is fastened to theadjacent wall by the screws 30 the gasket will be slightly compressed.This continuous gasket is adapted to be engaged by the flange portion 21of the door liner when the door is in its closed position. Thus, afluidtight seal is provided along the sides and across the top of thedoor.

For sealing the bottom of the door on the other hand, it will beobserved that the bottom wall I! of the vat is provided with anoutwardly and upwardly flaring portion 3|. It will be noted that thisportionof the bottom wall defines a substantially smooth curve, as shownin Fig. 1, which may be easily cleaned and which ofl'ers no comers orniches in which food waste may accumulate. Provided on the back of thedoor lining 24 and extending across the full width of the door, asshownin Fig. 3, is a bottom asket 32 made of some suitable resilientmaterial which is preferably a synthetic rubber composition such asneoprene. Such a synthetic rubber composition is employed because of itsdesirable grease resisting properties which prevent deterioration of thegasket from the greases present in the dripping: accumulated in the receptacle 23, which drippings come in contact with the gasket 32 uponbeing discharged into the vat. It is to be observed that the bottomgasket 32 lies in a diiferent plane from the lower gasket 28so as toform a fluid-tight seal at the lower corners of the door.

The bottom gasket 32 is held in its operative position along thelower'edge of the door lining by means of a gasket retainer 33 which iswelded or otherwise secured to the door lining 24. It will be observedthat this lower gasket has a vertically extending portion 34 which lieswithin the gasket retainer and has a curved bottom portion 35 which isflexed to follow the contour of the outwardly and upwardly flaringportion 3| of the bottom wall ofthe vat. Thus, as the door is opened theportion 35 of the gasket sweeps inwardly along the flared portion of thebottom wall so as to loosely seal the door at this point. As the door isclosed, the portion 35 of the gasket sweeps outwardly and follows thecontour of the bottom wall so that when the door is finally closed, thegasket tightly and positively seals the lower edge of the door againstleakage. By supporting the bottom gasket onthe rear of the door lining24, as shown, the gasket in no way interferes with the functioning ofthe drip collecting receptacle 26.

It has been found that when the door is in its sealed position, leakagethrough a-defective seal will accumulate beyond or outside of the sealand will collect in the area between the outside edge of the bottomwallof the vat I0 and the gasket 32. In order to prevent this volume ofliquid from accumulating to a point where it will spill over on to thefloor, there is provided in the center portion of the gasket 32, a smallopening 36 (Figs. 1 and 3) which permits such trapped liquid to flowback into the vat 10. The

I opening is made sufficiently small to prevent any substantial leakageoutwardly therethrough when the door is closed and articles are beingwashed.

' From the foregoing detailed description it will be observed that Ihave provided animprove'd sealing arrangement for a side opening type orwashing apparatus which is both simple in construction and highlyeifective in operation and which permits the use of a simpler form ofvat construction, particularly at the side opening by eliminating theneed for any baiiies or flanges on the vat itself for effecting asealing function. Moreover, it will be observed that there is providedan improved sealing arrangement which in no way interferes with theprojection into the washing vat of drippings accumulated on the vat doorduring loading or unloading operations. Furthermore, there is provided asealing arrangement which comprises a discontinuous gasket in 13;;

of courseithat it. Is not intended to be limited thereto since manymodifications may be made and it is therefore intended to cover -by theappended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spiritand scope of this invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is:

1. In a washing apparatus, a vat forming a washing chamber having afront-opening therein,

a door for. closing said opening, hinge means mounting said door forswinging movement from a vertical closed position to aehorizontal openposition on a fixed axis at the lower edge of said door, the bottom ofsaid door extending inwardly and downwardly into said vat when the dooris in its vertical closed position, and a gasket mounted on said doorpositioned forwardly of the inner surface of said door constructed andarranged to engage a part of said vat under said front opening so as toform a seal and thereby prevent leakage along the bottom of the doorwhen the door is in said vertical closed position, and so that it offersno obstruction as said door is being moved to its vertical closedposition, to the discharge of drippings from said inner surface thatcollect thereon when the door is in a horizontal position.

2. In a washing apparatus, a vat forming a washing chamber having afront opening therein, a bottom wall in said vat having an outwardlyprojecting portion terminating in said front opening and defining anunobstructed surface, a door for closing said opening, hinge meansmounting said door for swinging movement from a vertical closed positionto a horizontal open position on a fixed axis at the lower edge of saiddoor, the bottom of said door extending inwardly and downwardly into thevat when the door is in its vertical closed position, and a gasketmounted on said door located in a plane positioned forwardly of the rearsurface of said door constructed and arranged to engage said outwardlyprojecting portion of said bottom wall and form a seal preventingleakage along the bottom of the door when it is in said vertical closedposition, and so that it offers no obstruction, as the door is beingmoved to its vertical closed position, to the discharge of drippingsfrom said inner surface that collect thereon when the door is in ahorizontal position.

3. In a washing apparatus, a vat forming a washing chamber having afront opening therein, a bottom wall in said vat having an outwardlyprojecting portion terminating in said front opening and defining anunobstructed surface, a door for closing said opening arranged to swingon an axis at its lower edge, the bottom of said door extending inwardlyand downwardly into the vat so as to always cover the outwardlyprojecting portion of said bottom wall irrespective of the position ofsaid door, and a gasket mounted on said door so as to engage saidoutwardly projecting portion of said bottom wall and form a sealpreventing leakage along the bottom of the door when it is in thevertical closed position, said gasket being positioned on said door sothat drippings collected on the inner surface of said door when it is ina horizontal open position are discharged into said vat over said gasketwhen said door is moved to the vertical closed position.

4. In a washing apparatus, a vat forming a washing chamber having a sideopening therein, a bottom wall for said vat having an outwardlyprojecting unobstructed curved surface defining the lower edge of saidopening, a door for closing sitioned on said door so that drippingscollected on the. inner surface of said door when it is in a horizontalopen position are discharged into said vat over said gasket when saiddoor is moved to the vertical position, and means defining an opening insaid bottom portion of said asket for draining into said vat fluidtrapped beyond said gasket between said gasket and the lower edgewashing chamber having a side opening therein,

a bottom wall for said vat having an outwardly projecting unobstructedcurved surface defining the lower edge of said opening, a door forclosing said opening arranged to swing on an axis at its lower edge, thebottom of said door extending inwardly and downwardly into said vat soas to always cover the outwardly projecting portion of said bottom wallirrespective of the position of said door, and discontinuous gasketmeans for preventing leakage around said door when said door is in itsclosed position comprising askets mounted on the top and side walls ofsaid vat and adapted to be engaged by the top and side edges of saiddoor, and a gasket mounted on the bottom edge of said door havingportions adapted to engage said gaskets on said side walls so as to sealthe lower corners of said door and having a bottom portion engaging saidcurved surface 'of said bottom wall to seal the lower edge of said door.

6. In a washing apparatus, a vat forming a washing chamber having afront opening therein, a door for closing said opening, hinge meansmounting said door for swinging movement on an axis at its lower edge,the bottom of said door extending inwardly and downwardly into said vatwhen said door is in its vertical closed position, and discontinuousgasket means for preventing leakage around said door when said door isin its closed position comprising gaskets mounted on the top and sidewalls of said vat and adapted to be engaged by the top and side edges ofsaid door, and a gasket mounted on the bottom edge of said door havingportions adapted to engage the gaskets on said side walls so as to sealthe lower corners of said door, and also having a portion engaging thebottom wall of said vat to seal the lower edge of said door.

7. In a washing apparatus a vat forming a washing chamber having a sideopening therein, a bottom wall for said vat having anoutwardlyprojecting unobstructed curved surface defining the lower edge of saidopening, a door for closing said opening arranged to swing on an axis atits lower edge from a closed position to an open position the bottom ofsaid door extending inwardly and downwardly into said vat so as toalways cover the outwardly projecting portion of said bottom wallirrespective of the position of said door, a discontinuous gasket meansfor preventing leakage around said door when said door is in said closedposition comprising gaskets mounted on the top and side walls of saidvat and adapted to be engaged by the top and side edges of said door,and a gasket mounted on the bottom edge of said door having portionadapted to engage the lower portions of said gaskets on said side wallsso as to seal the lower comers of said door and having a bottom portionengaging said curved surface of said bottom wall to seal the lower edgeof said door, said bottom portion including an outwardly projectingportion adapted'to loosely seal against said curved surface of saidbottom wall during movement of said door between its closed and openposition.

8. In a washing apparatus, a vat having a top wall, side walls, and abottom wall, said bottom wall having an upwardly and outwardlyprojecting portion defining the lower edge of said open ing, a door forclosing said opening arranged to swing on an axis at its lower edge, adoor lining having a portion projecting into said opening, and means forpreventing leakage of fluid through said opening when said door is inits closed position comprising a discontinuous gasket having a portionsecured to said top and side walls of said vat adapted to be engaged bysaid door lining to seal the top and side walls of said door, and asecond portion secured to the bottom of said door linin and adapted toengage said outwardly projecting portion of said bottom wall to seal thebottom 01' said door against leakage, said second portion havingportions projecting beyond said door lining to engage said firstportions in the lower corners thereof so as to prevent leakage at thelower corners or said door,

and means defining an'opening in said second portion for draining intosaid vat fluid trapped between said gasket and the lower edge of saidopening.- I

9. In a washing apparatus, a vat having top. side, and bottom wallsdefining a front opening therein, said bottom wall having an upwardlyand outwardly flared portion terminating at the bottom edge of saidfront opening, a door for closing said opening arranged to swing on anaxis at its lower edge, said door having an inner lining, a bead insaid-inner lining defining a receptacle for collecting drippings whensaid door is in its open position, a flange projecting outwardly fromsaid head along the top and side edges of said inner lining, gasketmeans secured to said top and side walls of said vat adapted to beengaged by said flange when said door is in its closed position to forma fiuid tight seal A therefor, said gaskets along said side wallsprojectlng downwardly into engagement with theadjacent portion of saidbottom wall, a gasket lying out of the plane of said side wall gasketsfor sealing the bottom edge of said door lining, means for supportingsaid gasket on said bottom edge of said door lining so that it extendsbeyond the corners of said bottom edge to engage said gaskets secured tosaid side walls and thereby seal the bottom comers of said door when itis in its closed position. I

EDGAR SFSTODDARD.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,51h,666. March 23', 19M.

EDGAR s. STODDABD.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printedspecificetion ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, firstcolumn, line 25, after "position", line-1L6, after "obstruction", andline 1&7, after "position", strike out the comma; line 51, beginningwith "5. In a washing strike out all to and including the word andperiod "position." in line 70, comprising claim" 5, and for the claimsnow numbered 14., 5, 6-, 7, 8 and 9 read 5, 1L, 5, 6, 7 and 8respectively; and in the heading to the printed specification, line7,for '9 Claims) read --8 C1aims. and that the said Letters Patentshould be read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of June, A. 1 191;3.-

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

